Not every wine lover wants a fixed itinerary and a guide checking their watch every forty minutes. For travellers who would rather set their own pace, our sister brand The Wine Hopper offers something genuinely different from a standard guided wine tour - a hop-on, hop-off bus service through the heart of Tasmania's Coal River Valley, Hobart's closest and most celebrated cool climate wine region.
How It Works
The Wine Hopper departs Hobart's Information Centre at 10:45am and loops through the valley on the hour, with the last pickup returning to Hobart by 5:30pm. Rather than following a guide on a fixed schedule, you decide how long to spend at each stop - linger over a long lunch at one venue, or hop straight back on the next loop and keep exploring.
The system runs on a total of four stops throughout the day, with most venues allowing a little over an hour at each. To make the most of the day, the recommended approach is to visit venues in the order they appear on the timetable, since the schedule is built around minimising wait times between pickups. Booking ahead for lunch is genuinely important too - venues have maximum dining capacities, and while there are usually other options nearby if you are turned away, it is easy to avoid the issue altogether with a reservation.
Where You'll Go
Each stop has its own character. Puddleduck is known for its relaxed, family-run cellar door beside a pond. Every Man & His Dog pairs small-scale wine with chocolate made on site. Pooley Wines and Caledon Estate bring a strong sense of place and history, both sitting on elevated single-site properties above the valley floor. Killara Distillery adds something different again - Australia's first second-generation distillery, producing single malt whisky and gin alongside the valley's wine offering.
The route takes in seven of the valley's best-known cellar doors and one distillery: Coal Valley Vineyard, Craigow, Riversdale Estate, Puddleduck, Every Man & His Dog, Pooley Wines, Killara Distillery and Caledon Estate, with a stop in the historic village of Richmond along the way for those who want a break from tastings altogether.
Freedom and Flexibility
That flexibility is the whole point of the service. Fall in love with a winery and stay an extra hour rather than rushing to the next stop, or move through quickly if you are keen to see as many venues as possible in a single day. It is a genuinely different experience from a coach tour where everyone is herded through each stop on the same schedule regardless of interest.
The one firm rule worth knowing: the bus cannot wait for passengers who miss the final pickup. Being on time for your last connection back to Hobart is on you - everything else about the day is entirely in your hands.
Comfort and Responsibility
Carry packs are provided for wine purchases, so you are not left juggling bottles between stops. In the interest of everyone's safety, no alcohol consumption is permitted on the bus itself - tastings happen at each venue, and purchases travel with you rather than being opened en route.
Beyond the Wine
Alongside the tastings, most stops also offer local produce - cheese, charcuterie and other Tasmanian specialties that turn the day into a proper food and wine experience rather than just a tasting crawl. The valley's colonial history is on show too, particularly around Richmond, giving the day a cultural dimension that a straight winery hop would miss.
Our tip for getting the most out of the day: start with a Tasmanian sparkling, since the region's cool climate fizz has attracted genuine attention from French Champagne houses. Take the time to actually chat with the winemakers rather than moving straight through - their knowledge adds a lot to the experience. And pair your favourite pour with a local cheese board wherever you can; it is a simple way to turn a tasting into a proper meal.
Private Tours, Events and Gift Cards
If a set timetable still feels too structured, private tours can be arranged with a fully custom itinerary, guided commentary and a modern, air-conditioned vehicle - available any day of the week. The Wine Hopper also provides statewide transport for events across Tasmania, from corporate functions and weddings to festivals, and offers gift cards, making it an easy present for the wine lover in your life.
Planning Your Day
For visitors staying in Hobart with a spare day, The Wine Hopper is one of the simplest ways to see the Coal River Valley without hiring a car or committing to a fully guided tour. It suits couples, small groups of friends, and anyone who would rather build their own day around a handful of favourite stops than follow someone else's schedule from start to finish.
Related Reading
- The Ultimate 5-Day Tasmania Itinerary from Hobart
- Caledon Estate Vineyard
